Local E.Coli Case Linked to National Outbreak

Lab results released by the Arizona Department of Health Services confirm that five cases of E.coli illness in Arizona are linked to the national strain of E.coli infection that has caused more than 130 people in 22 states across the country to become ill in recent weeks.

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"One of the five cases, a Yavapai County youth who sought medical attention as early as August 31, developed the common bloody diarrhea symptoms and did eat spinach consistent with the "best if eaten by" dates of August 17 through October 1, which have been implicated in other cases across the country, " says Robert Resendes, director of Yavapai County Community Health Services.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory encouraging people to stop eating all fresh spinach, packaged or not, as well as fresh spinach blended with other greens. The FDA continues to work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local agencies to determine the cause and scope of the E. coli outbreak related to spinach.

This strain of E. coli causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop kidney failure. This is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly.